The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-07-07

delicious supper was obtained from their
legs, which were dipped in egg batter,
rolled in biscuit paste and fried in. boiling
fat.
''We played to enormous houses in
Winnipeg. Indians and half breeds made
up our audiences, and every one seemed
flush of money. Many carried rolls OF
bills about with them. There were no
coppers used, and half dime was the
lowest coin. While we were in Winnipeg
the mayor of Emerson, small town OF
800 inhabitants, came up and said they
had never had dramatic performance
and insisted upon our visiting that place.
He said there was not much in the way
of a theatre, but that they had an old
bonded warehouse full Of agricultural Inn
plements, soap boxes, brandy and cham
payne cases and by clearing those out he
would rig up first class auditorium.
Having two days to spare we decided to
visit Emerson, and upon entering the
place we were received by the inhabitants
with great ovation. A committee OF
ten had been appointed to clear out the
building, which was nothing but barn,
with windows on the ground floor. A
hole was cut in the building for purposes
of exit, and another exit was constructed
from the platform on to the prairie, where
tents had been rigged up for the COM
pany. There was no house for mile
around, and we had to dress In the tents.
cat night there was big house, every
one coming to town on horseback. 1t
seemed like big horse fair, as the ami
mails were picketed in the bushes around
the building, and now and again we were
startled by q shrill neigh from their direc-
tion. The committee of ten citizens,
headed by the mayor, had done their
work well, and while the old warehouse
did not present very inviting appear
ance 1t served a purpose. The stalls, or
back seats, consisted Of soap and candle
boxes, brandy and champagne cases placed
in rows In front of the stage (no extra
charge for champagne cases.. ! may add
that the cases were not empty. Each
seat represented q dozen or two OF brandy
or champagne. The committee saw that
no liberties were taken with the seats H..
We performed Lester Wallack's military
drama, "Rosedale,n which seemed to
please our audience greatly. The lady
members Of our company had a lively
time of it all through the performance, as
the mosquitoes insisted on making their
presence felt in q most uncomfortable
manner. It was laughable to see the
gentle slaps the victims gave during the
more serious portions Of the play to rid
themselves Of the stinging pests.
tOn the second night OF our stay we
performed The Shaughraun, with all the
effects, revolving tower, etc. at the con-
clusion Of the second act the committee
waited on me and requested that we pro-
long our visit another night. This could
not be done, as we had engagements to
meet elsewhere, but 1t occurred to me that
we could give another performance that
night. We could finish playing The
Shaughraun' ut 10:45 o'clock, and by dis
missing the audience for fifteen minutes
start again with another play at II o'clock.
I announced this to the audience and was
received with cheers and cries Of PLAY all
nightp Well, we finished THE Shaugh-
raun,, ,anf the male portion Of the audi
ence retired to the prairie, while collect
ed the admission fee for the second per-
formance from the ladies, who remained
seated; the gentlemen then returned, pay
Ing at the door. --z,
hAt Ills we commenced the second
programme, which consisted of q bur-
lesque on Canadian politics, entitled n.
M. S. Parliament written to 'Pinafore'
music. Each character was made up to
represent prominent Canadian states
man. Our orchestra was small church
organ, played by our conductor. That
was my first experience Of playing twice
In one night, and there was only twelve
shilIngs difference between the two
houses. The people paid two shillings to
IooI in the windows to see the perform
ance. Some borrowed and others stole
ladders SO that they might peep through
the upper windows, as the house would
only hold 400 or 500 people. Brooklyn
Eagle. -.